Influence Of Birth Order And Gender On Academic Achievement Of Secondary School Students
[A CASE STUDY OF OFFA LOCAL GOVERNMENT OF KWARA STATE]

    He postulated that parents have a paramount role to play in children’s behaviour and usually play an important role, in the social emotional intellectual and personality development of their children.
    Alao summarized his thought and said that the complex relationships of the child with the mother, father and other siblings in the family affect the development of character and mental health. Where the situation descri1bed above is lacking suggests a problem for the child especially if he/she is fostered.
    Mallum (2007) stated that whatever methods parents (especially mothers) use to bring up a child have effect on the latter development of the child. Mallum believes that parents (especially mothers) have child-rearing patterns to bring up the child right from the moment of conception to the time when the child leaves the primary school at say age twelve years. To him, the method and pattern whether hostile or warmth will to a large extent affect the child in later life. A child that is shown warmth and affection will grow to be more confidents; independent and achieve. On the other hand, a child that lacks all the warmth especially if on foster may likely not progress adequately well in later life endeavour especially academic.
Statement of the Problem
    The influence of birth order and gender on academic achievement cannot be over-emphasised; this has been proved by various research works which were conducted by past researchers.
    Alao (2008) stated that family atmosphere affects a child’s value and sex roles and explains that family constellation and method of upbringing or child rearing practices affect a child’s academic achievement.
    The researcher intends to pick secondary school in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The project intends to investigate if there is any influence of a child position in the family as well as the influence of his gender on his academic achievement.
    Various problems contribute to students’ academic achievement: the influence of birth order and gender are of great concern to the researcher.
    Related and relevant studies have been done by Alfred Adler (2006), Women (2001) Belmont and Marolla (2001), Walter Tolman (2000), Fatola (2002) and Michael .E. Lamb and Brian Sutton Smith (2000) on the influence of birth order and gender on students academic achievement of students in some secondary schools. The study found out that birth order and gender can influence academic achievement.
Research Questions
    The researcher intends to find answers to the following research questions:
1.    What is the influence of birth order and gender on students’ academic achievement?
2.    Is there any difference in the influence of birth order and gender on students’ academic achievement as perceived by respondents on the basis of gender?
3.    Is there any difference in the influence of birth order and gender on students’ academic achievement as perceived by respondents on the basis of age?
4.    Is there any difference in the influence of birth order and gender on students’ academic achievement as perceived by respondents on the basis of marital status?
5.    Is there any difference in the influence of birth order and gender on students’ academic achievement as perceived by respondents on the basis of years of experience?
6.    Is there any difference in the influence of birth order and gender on students academic achievement as perceived by respondents on the basis of religion?